You can do anything, but lay off of my blue suede shoes. — Carl Perkins

You don’t tug on Superman’s cape … — Jim Croce

Don’t be messing with the Terrible Towel. — LaMarr Woodley

OK, that’s not an exact quote from Woodley, but it’s the gist of his message for Ravens running back Ray Rice.

During Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh, Rice got hold of a Terrible Towel, and he was seen with one draped over his head and then waving it as he left the field after the Ravens’ victory.

Woodley tweeted in reaction: “If youre not a steelers fan, dont put your hands on a terrible towel.” Another Woodley tweet made reference to supposed bad karma for those who mess with the sacred towel, citing LenDale White (then with the Titans) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (then of the Bengals).

One could take the view that the Steelers, in desperate straits at quarterback, shorthanded at receiver and now two games behind the Ravens in the AFC North, have bigger concerns than who’s doing what with a towel.

But maybe this is the kind of distraction they need and just another piece of kindling to keep the rivalry burning.